I decided to start a new thread on the discussion of what locomotives should be restored. The previous one has gotted so convoluted, that just to read it all is a chore!
What I think is ironic in 2007 is that we may very soon have more locomotives runnable on (or around) the D&S and C&TS than there is business to justify them. If the C&TS gets 489 completed this summer, it probably has enough running locomotives to protect its existing business. The D&S is essentially in the same condition. That is good news for the railroads, but it presents a challenge to those of us who would like to see additional locomotives restored to operation. If the "business case" will not support additional restorations, then the funding will probably have to come from sources outside of the business case. By no means impossible, getting that kind of funding is a tougher nut to crack.
So, as has been so thoroughly debated in the other thread, prioritizing which other locomotives should (or can) be rebuilt should be done--then the process to secure additional funding for those restorations should proceed full steam ahead (excuse the pun). I happen to think, that in the C&TS's case at least, that it's in the works. The D&S is tougher, because being a for-profit private company, it really has no "preservation component," except for what can be revenue-generating. That, unfortunatley, has led to the derterioration (often beyond restorability) of a lot of equipmment left on that line from the D&RGW days. The 493, now rotting away in Silverton, is a good example. The freight and outfit equipment rotting at Tacoma is another.
Back to locomotives: It IS hard to prioritize. Personally, I would love to see the 463 back. It is the one of only two K-27's, and is a lovely locomotive, to boot. K-37's were the stalwarts of the line during its "latter-day" heyday in the 1950's and 1960's. 483 has a long history all over the narrow-gauge, and was the first C&TS locomotive to operated. It and 484 carried the line the C&TS first couple of seasons. Over at the D&S, the 473 is a favorite. It, too, has a long narrow-gauge history in numerous locales--it also is a "hoodoo," or hard-luck, engine. It deserves to run again.
Truth is, I love 'em all. For me, it is as much a nostalgic choice as anything. My "first" narrow gauge locomotives that I saw under steam were 473, 493 and 497. 476 and 478 followed within hours. My first ride behind narrow gauge steam was 478. 473 followed the next year. I saw 498 in Durango that trip--but it was not under steam, but would be a few days thereafter. My first K-36 that I saw under steam was 483, bringing the first C&TS train into Chama. 484 followed the next year. All these years later, I still look forward to more "firsts": 315 under steam, maybe 492 someday, maybe RGS 74, who knows?
